OneWales delays risk putting Wales in the slow lane for decades (Carmarthen East, Dinefwr and Llanelli Liberal Democrats)

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Carmarthen East, Dinefwr and Llanelli Liberal Democrats <jon@burree.co.uk>

OneWales delays risk putting Wales in the slow lane for decades

September 29, 2008 12:00 AM
Originally published by Welsh Liberal Democrats

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Mike German has slammed the "ostrich attitude" of the One Wales Government in refusing to get involved with a Yes Campaign.

Last week saw the birth of a fledgling No Campaign, True Wales, with members of the Labour and Conservative Parties declaring they would seek to keep Wales in the devolution slow lane.

Mike German, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, has already seen two efforts to establish a cross-party basis for a yes campaign rebuffed by Rhodri Morgan and Ieuan Wyn Jones. Despite the creation of a No Campaign, they remain unwilling to commit to a Yes campaign.

Mike German said: "If the One Wales Government is serious about meeting its pledge to hold a referendum before 2011, they need to take their heads out of the sand on this issue. Their "ostrich attitude" is in danger of handing the No campaign a significant head start and leaving Wales in the devolution slow lane for decades.

"It is far easier - in general - to persuade people to say no to something, than it is to get them to say yes. So a Yes campaign has to be well organised, and that needs doing early. All my experience of previous referendums shows me that if you fail to prepare you are preparing to fail."

Mr German added, that waiting for the All-Wales Convention to finish its deliberations, would be a major delay and play in to the hands of the No campaign.

"Everyone involved in the Convention is adamant that it is not a campaign. Let's hope it is not just a £1m circus which is there to distract from the splits in the Labour Party on this issue, and to con Plaid Cymru members that this issue is moving forward.

"For a Yes Campaign to be successful it will require a coming together of all the pro-devolution parties - the Welsh Lib Dems and the leader of the Welsh Conservatives has already given support - and other people passionate about Wales' future from outside party politics.

"To co-ordinate a ground campaign, sharing information and working with political rivals takes time and effort. We cannot expect it to click together like Lego bricks. We will have to work hard to achieve a unified campaign."

Mr German also confirmed his view that it would be impossible to hold a referendum on the same day as the Assembly elections - an idea that has been put forward by IWA Director John Osmond.

"Holding a referendum on the same day as the Assembly election would completely undermine the Yes campaign," he said. "Take Newport East or Swansea West for example - how would you expect Welsh Lib Dem activists to work with the very people we want to take the seat from - it would be impossible. All parties would put their self-interest first and the Yes campaign would suffer.

"Remember we won the referendum in 1997 by only 6,721 votes. Every vote, in every county, will count next time too. I believe this referendum is winnable, and winnable before 2011. But the longer Rhodri and Ieuan delay the longer Wales will be waiting for a proper Parliament."